Extension leaf table



Milly 9, 1944- .1, c. L. VII-:HMANN i 2,348,371

EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Filed Aug. 12, 1942 ATTORNEYS Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE p l2,348,371 i EXTENSION LEAF TABLE t John C. L. Viehmann, Manhasset, Y. Y

Application August 12, 1942, Serial No. 454,5'11

4 Claims. -(Cl. 311-45) This invention relates to an extension leaf table and particularly to an improved extension leaf table of the end leaf type;

The prime object of the invention is the provision of an extension leaf table of the end leaf type constructed so that the table top is preserved as a single layer top when the table is both in the extended and contracted conditions. A corollary prime object of the invention pertains to the provision of an extension leaf table of this type having an exceedingly simple structural design.

The old-fashioned center-split extension leaf table, while cumbersome in structure and difficult in mode of operation, possessed the advantage of enabling the design of the table top to be preserved as aV single layer top. To eliminate the disadvantagesr structurally. and operationally of these center-split tables (which required two persons to pull or` push atthe opposite table ends on two relatively mov'abletable body's'ections), end extension leaf tables have been devised in which the'table top is slidably mounted on a fixed table body between an extended position and'a contracted position and an end extension leaf is movable into position at'the end (or side) of the table body in mating relation with the extended table top.

In this end extension leaf type of extension leaf table, howeventheend leaf is made so related to the table body and to the table top that when the table `is in contracted condition, the table top is composed of two'layers,"one being the table top and the other, at least in part, the underlying contracted end extension leaf. This double layer or double thickness of the table top detracts from the appearance of the table and puts an undesirable limit on the ornamental designability of this type of table. In addition thereto, the relationship between the slidable table top and the rails of the table frame suffers complication, and additional equipment or xtures also have to be provided for appropriately mounting and supporting the end extension leaf for its movement between contracted and extended position.

-The prime object object of my present invention centers about the provision of an extension leaf table of this end extension leaf type, in which the top comprises onlya single layer in both the extended and contracted conditions of the table and, moreover, in which -they relationships lbetween the parts (tabletontablebody and extension leaf) are maintained in their mostsimple forms. f

VTo the accomplishmentgof the aforestated obappear, the present invention resides in the novel structural principles of the extension leaf table as herein described and sought to be dened in the appended claims.

In the appended drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of the table of the present invention, showing the same in contracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof (with parts of the legs broken away), depicting the manner in which the table is operated to extended condition;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, Showing the table in extended condition;

Fig- 4 is a bottom plan view of one side of the table, taken in cross-section in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view (on a reduced scale) taken in cross-section in the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective underneath view of the end extension leaf itself; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a'detail, showing the rib and groove joint between the table top and extension leaf.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the table comprises a table body generally designated as B, a table top generally designated as T, slidably movable on the table body between the contracted position shown in Fig. l and the extended positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and an end extension leaf L removably attachable to the end of the table body as depicted in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the said extension leaf L when attached to the table body being in horizontal alignment with and arranged in mating relation to the extended table top, as shown in Fig. 3, and when detached from the table top, being supportable within and concealed by the enclosure of the table body B as depicted in Fig. 1- of the drawing.

The table body B comprises a fixed frame composed of the side rails li and I I and the end rails l2 and I3 held together in any suitable manner as by the corner angle struts I4, `Ill'to which are in turn secured the four table legs l5, I5 as by means of the screws i6, i6, in a manner best depicted in Fig. 4 of the drawing. This table body B is thus of the xed type and presents a structural design of the simplest possible 4standard form. Y i

The table top T is, as noted, slidably mounted on the table body B. The table topV T rests directly on the top edges of rthe frame rails A`I 0*-4-I 3 -jects Vand such other objects as may hereinafter and is guided in its slidable motion thereon by means of runner blocks I1 and I8, attached as by means of screws to the underneath face of the table top T, and runways or guideways I9 and 20 similarly attached to the inside faces of opposite rails such as the side rails I and II. These runner blocks and guideways may be of any suitable design and, as shown, the runner blocks I1 are L-shaped and the guideways are simple strips, the blocks and guideways mating to permit the slidable motion of the table top between its contractedY and extended positions. Suitable stops may be provided for limiting the movement of the table top in its opposite directions, and pref-y erably the runner blocks I1 and I8 are made of such length that the ends thereof arestopped by engagement with the corner struts I4, I4,as shown for one position in Fig. 1 and for the other position in Fig. 2 of the drawingj Ifdesired, the 1 table top T may be marginally grooved on all its four sides as at 2|.

The end extension leaf L comprises asimple endv leaf which is removably attachable bodily tothe end (or side) of thev table body. The extension leaf L when attached to the table body, as shown in Fig. 3, is in longitudinal alignment iwith and arranged in mating relation to the table top T, and when detached bodily from the table body is supportingly receivable by means of two cross bars 22 and 23 which are attached to the lside rails IIJy and II, the extension leaf when Fig. 3 and the contracted condition as Yshown in Fig. 1, vandfurthermore enables the relationship between the table top, table body and the exten- Vsion leaf to be maintained in their most simple forms as described. l

A preferred manner of Yenabling the removable attachment of lthe extension leaf L is by providing the extension leaf Lat its underneath .face with the snort runner blocks 24 and Y25 (also of L -shaped form) arranged to be insertable between the opposite side rails Il) and II andto be slidably mateable with part of the guideways I9 and 20. To accomplish this, these guideWyS are interrupted at 26producing thereat gaps which receive the blocks 24 and 25 and leaving guideway extensions such as I9 for mating with the blockson the leaf L. As a result of this simple structure, the extension leafL may be moved to attached conditionin the manner best depicted inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawing; the leaf is rst moved into a position whereby the blocks 24 and 25 are received in the gaps between the guide- Ways and the blocks are then slidably mated with the guideway extensions, the leaf being moved to its outermost position as shown in Fig. 3 .of the drawing, the blocks being stopped by engagement with the. corner struts I4, I4. The edges of the leaf L may be grooved on three of its sides as at 21, to correspond to the grooving 2| of the tabletop T,Ithe fourth or inner side being ribbed as at 2,8 to dovetail with the inner side grooving r2I4 of the table top T as best shown in Fig.7of the drawing. i v

The structure 'and mode of operation andthe advantages of the end leaf extension table of ,my present invention will in the main, be fully apparent from the above-detailed description thereof. Y Whenr thetable ls'in Vcontracted, posior enamel type.

v metal parts (except the screws) are needed, thus tion as shown in Fig. 1, the detached extension leaf L is supported within the table rails and concealed thereby. When in contracted condition, the design of the table is a streamlined single layer top design. When it is desired to move the table to extended condition, the table top T is slid to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the extension leaf L is then inserted and slid into its position as depicted sequentially in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. The table top T is then moved back slightly from the position of Fig. 2 to that o-f Fig. 3, into mating relation with the extension .leaf L. To return the parts to contracted condition, the reverse sequence is followed. All of the. parts Vof the table may be made of wood,

although the top and leaf may be of the porcelain When made of all wood, no

permitting an extension leaf table of the end leaf Vtype to be made without metal xtures. If desired, however, a, simple spring lock may be added to hold the table top positively against movement in both its directions and in both extended and contracted conditions; this, however, is preferably dispensed with and it has, therefore, not been shown in the drawing. There results therefrom the various advantages above referred to.

It will be apparent that while I have shown the preferred construction of the extension leaf `table of the present invention, some changes may guideways on opposite rails, runner blocks attached to said table top mating with said guide.- Ways 'for guiding the slidable motion of the table top, and an end extension leaf removably attach- Aable bodily to the end of the table frame, the said `extension leaf being provided for its removable attachment with runner blocks arranged to be insertablebetween the said opposite rails and to be slidably mateable with part of said guideways, the said extension leaf when attached to the table vbody being in horizontal alignment with andarranged in 'mating relationV to the table top in extended position. Y

2. A single layer top extension leaf table comprising a table body having a xedframe and supporting legs, the said frame includingfside and end rails, a table top'covering Said tableframe in the ynomini and contracted position of in@ tame top, the said table top being slidably mounted on said table frame between an extended position and Asaid normal' and contractedposition, the table top in its extended position coveringbnlya part and exposing' Vanotherpart of said table frame, guideways on Aopposite rails, `runnerblocks attached to said table top matingwith said guideways for guiding the slidable motion of the table top, and an end extension leaf removablyattachableto the `end' ofthe table frame when said-table top is in its extended position, the said extension leafbeing `provided for its removable attachment withl runneryblocls arranged to be insertablebetween the said oppositerails and to be ,slidably mateable with part of said guideways, the said extansion leaf when attached to the table body beingin horizontal alignment with and arranged in mating relation to the table top in extended position, the said table thus providing a single layer top for both the extended and contracted positions.

3. A single layer top extension leaf table cornprising a table body having a xed frame and supporting legs, a table top covering said frame in the normal and contracted position of the table top, the said table top being slidably mounted on said table frame between said normal contracted position and an extended position, the table top in its extended position covering only a part and exposing another part of said table frame, mating means on the table body and table top for guiding the slidable movement of the table top, and an end extension leaf removably attachable bodily to the end of the table body When said table top is in its extended position, the said end extension leaf when in table attached position covering the exposed part of the table frame and being in horizontal alignment with and arranged in mating relation to the table top in extended position, the said table thus providing a single layer top for both the extended and contracted positions.

4. A single layer top extension leaf table comprising a table body having a xed frame and supporting legs, the said frame including side and end rails, a table top covering said frame in the normal and contracted position of the table top, the said table top being slidably mounted on said table frame between said normal contracted position and an extended position, the table top in its extended position covering only a part and exposing another part of said table frame, mating means on the table body and table top for guiding the slidable movement of the table top, and an end extension leaf removably attachable bodily to the end of the table body when said table top is in its extended position, mating means on the table body and said end extension leaf for locking the end extension leaf in table attached position, the said end extension leaf when in table attached position covering the exposed part of the table frame and being in horizontal alignment with and arranged in mating relation to the table top in extended position, the said table thus providing a single layer top for both the extended and contracted positions.

JOHN C. L. VIEHMANN. 

